A/N: This is slightly AU in that Superman and Lois had been together for over a year before the events of Superman II. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

The coffee mug was cool against Lois' hand, the cooler liquid inside now little more than sludge as she leaned unmoving against the kitchen counter, the house silent in the night. Richard was gone for next few days, a business trip to the Planet's Europe office. Lois tried to ignore the part of her that was glad for the brief relief from having to see him every morning, have his arms around her every night, all the while wondering how the hell she was going to tell him that their entire life was based on a lie, an assumption she had made to protect herself pain and fear that was now so completely impossible it seemed more fantasy than the truth itself.

Superman was the father of her child.

It didn't exactly surprise her, that he was the father- there'd certainly been plenty of chances for conception. Lois smiled and absently sipped the cold coffee. Her first article on Superman was titled 'I Spent the Night with Superman', and people everywhere had assumed the Man of Steel had a girlfriend- so of course, when she'd written the editorial, those same people had assumed she was a jilted lover. She wondered what they would think if she ever wrote one titled 'I had Superman In My Bed Every Night for Over A Year'.

Things had started about as far from sexy as it could get- her trying to escape security guards after sticking her nose in the business of yet another dirty politician, and Superman saving her from what might have been a quiet shot to the head. He had taken her home, and she had asked him to stay- then they were kissing, hands moving everywhere and she had found herself on her bed, staring in anticipation as he nervously removed his suit. Afterwards, when she had awoken to find an empty bed and a hastily written note, she had brushed it off as a spur of the moment bought on by too much adrenaline, that it would become nothing more than a fond, funny, impossible memory. Yet he had shown up at her window a few nights later, almost too nervous to say hi.

Lois took another sip, rolling the slightly bitter stuff on her tongue before throwing the sludge in the sink and making her way to the stairs. She was almost past Jason's door when she heard it- a faint whoosh. She turned back, knowing it could never have been something as normal as wind, and looked through the small crack.

The Man of Steel sat on her...their son's bed, quiet and still, just watching him. Lois couldn't help but smile. She had only seen him so at peace once, back then during that year. She closed her eyes and stilled herself as she opened the door. He looked up immediately, not a trace of surprise in his blue eyes.

"Hello, Lois."

"Hello." she whispered, unsure. How was she supposed to go about this? 'Hi. I'm still pissed off at you for leaving for five years while I was pregnant with your son, met and got engaged to another man, but now that you're back I want you again.'? That wouldn't exactly fly. She let out a breath and continued.

"We need to talk. Follow me." Lois headed back down the stairs feeling his gaze on her back, the effect it had on her same as when she first saw him.

He choose to stand while she again leaned on the counter.

"I don't know where to begin." she said, his reply given with a smile.

"I'm not really sure either." Why was this so hard? She loved him, he was the father of her child. It should be simple!

"I have...questions. Will he...grow out of his asthma, his allergies? Will he be as strong as you?"

"I was a bit sickly until I was about 10. As for his powers, I don't know. Has he shown any signs of them yet?"

"He saved my life on Luthor's ship. By throwing a piano."

"Oh." Silence. Her eyes roamed over the blue and red suit and cape she'd grown so used to. Superman spoke once more.

"We have to tell him."

"I know. We have to tell Richard too- but how?" He paused for a moment, grimacing, almost as if he were fighting something.

"I think that we should tell Richard first." he said, words clipped, the lack of emotion speaking more than if he had yelled to the heavens.

"He was there."

"What?"

"That's why I started seeing Richard, why I let myself believe he was Jason's father- because he was there."

"Lois, I-"

"We were together for a year, and only once were you still there when I woke up. You're the father of my child, and I don't even know you're name."

"Kal-El."

"What's your Earth name? Who are you when you walk down the street, when you go to buy groceries?" He stared her a moment, sizing her up, something like fear in his eyes. She crossed her arms, and the fear became resignation as he reached into his boot. And pulled out a pair of coke bottle glasses, putting them on his face with practiced grace.

Superman was Clark Kent.

Oh.

Well, then.

"You don't seem too surprised." he spoke with a nervous smile.

"Try watching your asthmatic five-year-old toss a piano, and see if much of anything surprises you."

"What happens now?"

"I have no idea. But I know we'll do it together."